Repeated searches on Sumi Den Baloch’s residence raise concerns over state intimidation

For the past week, the house of BYC member Sumi Den Baloch has been subjected to multiple, unannounced entries by security personnel. The latest incursion on Monday morning took place while the activist was away, intensifying fears of systematic intimidation.

In a statement on X, Sumi appealed directly to Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah and PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari for an explanation, asserting that the continuity of these raids signals a coordinated campaign to silence Baloch voices.

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) called the pattern “deeply disturbing,” urging the Sindh government to launch an independent investigation and to guarantee the safety of Sumi’s family. The commission warned that unchecked raids undermine constitutional rights and erode public confidence in law‑enforcement.

The Baloch Yakeenati Committee (BYC) characterized the series of raids as part of a larger strategy of state pressure aimed at activists who highlight human‑rights abuses and the disappearance of Baloch activists, including the 17‑year‑old forced disappearance of Sumi’s father, Den Mohammad Baloch.

The Baloch Women Forum (BWF) added that the un‑warranted seizure of personal belongings and intimidation of family members exemplify a policy designed to crush dissent, while recent police actions against peaceful demonstrators in Quetta further confirm an increasingly aggressive stance by the authorities.